Darcs
Free, open source distributed version control system that tracks changes (patches) rather than snapshots.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux
Is Darcs free?
Yes, free and open source
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About Darcs
Darcs is a distributed version control system written in Haskell. Where Git and Mercurial store a project as a series of snapshots, Darcs models history as a set of patches and lets you pick, reorder and push individual changes through an interactive, question-by-question interface. That patch theory makes cherry-picking natural and gave rise to newer systems such as Pijul. Like other distributed tools it needs no central server, and every copy of a repository works fully offline. Darcs is free and open source, maintained by volunteers under the Software Freedom Conservancy, and installs through Haskell's cabal or stack tools, Nix, or older prebuilt binaries for Windows, macOS and Linux. Development is slow but ongoing, with point releases still shipping. It is mostly used by Haskell developers and people interested in patch-based workflows; hosting options and editor or IDE integrations are far thinner than for Git, so teams that need GitHub-style collaboration will usually pick something else.
Best for: Developers who want patch-based, cherry-pick-friendly version control with a simple CLI.
Pros and cons
What works
- Interactive commands make picking individual changes easy
- No central server needed; full offline work
- Free and open source under a non-profit umbrella
Why people leave
- Small ecosystem: few hosting services and tool integrations compared with Git
- Prebuilt binaries lag behind; building usually needs Haskell tooling
- Slow release pace and small contributor base
Darcs vs Fossil, Pijul and Mercurial
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
Top Darcs alternatives
See all 5- 1FoFossil76.8
Single binary with built-in wiki, tickets and web UI for self-contained projects.
- 2PiPijul68.8
A newer patch-based system built on sound patch theory, fixing Darcs's old performance problems.
- 3
Mercurial64.8Mature distributed VCS with a friendly CLI and far wider tool support.
- 4
Jujutsu (jj)59.4Modern Git-compatible VCS with easy history editing, so you keep GitHub hosting.
- 5
Sapling SCM57.5Git-compatible client with stacked commits and a gentle interface.
Why people left Darcs
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Darcs: common questions
What is Darcs?
Darcs: Free, open source distributed version control system that tracks changes (patches) rather than snapshots. Best for developers who want patch-based, cherry-pick-friendly version control with a simple CLI. Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Darcs free?
Yes. Darcs is free, open-source software.
Is Darcs open source?
Yes.
What platforms does Darcs run on?
Darcs is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Darcs?
The highest-ranked Darcs alternatives right now are Fossil, Pijul and Mercurial. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Darcs vs Fossil: what's the difference?
Both Darcs and Fossil are free and open source. Both run on Windows, macOS and Linux.